Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, (Newark (New Jersey), March 18, 1970) is an American rapper, singer and actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for her supporting role in Chicago. More than fifteen other film prizes were actually awarded her, including a Golden Globe for the television film Life Support .
Queen Latifah in 2006 got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Content[]
Biography[Edit][]
Early years[Edit][]
Latifahs mother and father are policeman Lancelot Owens and music teacher Rita. Her parents divorced when she was eight years old. Her first success came with the songHome The Wiz 's during a performance of the musical at her school.
Rap[Edit][]
Latifah started her career with beat boxes for the rap group Ladies Fresh. In 1988 gave a regional dj a demo version of Latifahs single Princess of the Posse toMTVpresenter Fab Five Freddy (who, at the time, Yo! MTV Raps presented). Freddy helped her to get a record deal. Her first album All Hail the Queen in 1989 was released on the Tommy Boy Recordslabel. This album received positive reviews and was succeeded by Nature of a Sista that also was well received. In 1998 she released her third album, Order in the Court.
Acting[Edit][]
Between 1993 and 1998, Latifah a starring role in the sitcom Living Single, for which she also wrote and sang the opening music. She began her film career with supporting roles in films such as House Party 2 (1991) and Set It Off (1996). She also had a small role in two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .
Her first larger role was in the film version of the musical Chicago. Her role as Matron ' Mama ' Morton earned her an Oscarnomination for best supporting actress on. In2003 , she starred alongside Steve Martin in the film Bringing Down the House. Since then she has played, including several main and supporting roles in Scary Movie 3,Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Taxi, Beauty Shop, Hairspray and Valentine's Day.
Latifah is spokesperson for Covergirlcosmetics and did a commercial with fellow spokesman and singer Faith Hill. She had a private talk show called Queen Latifah Show, between 1999 and 2001.
Her stage name "Latifah" means ' delicate ' and ' sensitive ' in Arabic. She got the name of a family member when she was eight years old.
Discography[Edit][]
- 1989 All Hail the Queen (Tommy Boy)
- 1991 Nature of a Sista (Tommy Boy)
- 1993 Black Reign (Motown)
- 1998 Order in the Court (Motown)
- Dana Owens Album 2004 (Interscope)
- 2009 Persona (Flavor Unit Records)
Filmography (Incomplete)[Edit][]
| Filmography as an actress | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Ellie | (voice) |
| 2012 | Joyful Noise | Vi Rose Hill | |
| 2011 | The Dilemma | Susan | |
| 2010 | Just Wright | Leslie Wright | |
| Valentine's Day | Paula Thomas | ||
| 2009 | Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | Ellie | (voice) |
| 2008 | The Secret Life of Bees | August Boatwright | |
| What Happens in Vegas ... | Dr. Twitchell | ||
| 2007 | Hairspray | Miss Motormouth Maybelle | |
| 2006 | Ice Age 2: The Meltdown | Ellie | (voice) |
| Last Holiday | Georgia Byrd | ||
| Stranger than Fiction | Penny Escher | ||
| 2005 | Beauty Shop | Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) | (producer) |
| 2004 | Taxi | Belle | |
| The Cookout | Security Guard | (producer) | |
| Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Gina | ||
| 2003 | Scary Movie 3 | Aunt Rodger | |
| Bringing Down the House | Charlene Morton | (producer) | |
| 2002 | Chicago | Matron Mama Morton | |
| 1999 | The Bone Collector | Thelma | |
| 1998 | Living Out Loud | Liz Bailey | |
| Sphere | Alice "Teeny" Fletcher | ||
| 1997 | Hoodlum | Roy | |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Cleopatra ' Cleo ' Sims | |
| 1993 | My Life | Theresa | |
| 1992 | Juice | Ruffhouse M.C. | |
| 1991 | House Party 2 | Zora | |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever | LaShawn | |